RCNews August 11

Vera LaFoy has donated two pictures she has painted to the McCracken Public Library. She took a snapshot, while traveling in an ancient part of France, of an old stone horse trough and this is one of her paintings. She said she finds that those who are from the prairie find more beauty in ordinary things than other people!!!  The other painting is of Hall cousins: Margie, Vara, Melba, Gene, Wayne.
 
A small world story. Chuck has been doing some insurance adjusting in northwest Kansas and someone recommended a restaurant in Monument that served great Mexican food. Friday evening he walked in and there were 6-8 people and as always they asked where he was from. When he said McCracken they asked if he knew the Elias brothers, Tyrel and Travis and Clayton Wilson”. Someone else asked if they knew Rosemary Diehl and said their daughter was Roses’ roommate at K-State. They thought she married a lawyer and Chuck told them yes, and for a lawyer he was pretty good guy!!  Another fella said he came through McCracken late afternoon as he attended the sale at LaCrosse Livestock in LaCrosse.
 
There are still some pewter belt buckles left from the 25th annual McCracken Rodeo. Please call Gary Barnes at 785-731-5601 if you are interested. They are $20 picked up and $25 mailed.
 
Pete & Lola Rixon, Granbury, Texas was in Kansas this past week. Lola spent time with her sister, Carolyn Oller in Pratt; Pete was in McCracken with his sister Priscella Jacobs.
 
Jean Schutte joined Craig and Kim Cooper in LaCrosse Sunday for lunch.
 
Scarlett Schmitt, granddaughter of Cellie Klee and the late Maurice Klee, became the bride of Kert Crowe on Saturday evening July 31, 2011 at Visitation Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri. All of Cellie and Maurice’s children and grandchildren were in attendance except son, Jay Patrick Klee, Yadkinville, North Carolina and granddaughter, Brittany Klee, Parker, Colorado. Aunt Addie Mills joined in the celebration and was a guest of Cellie Klee in Topeka and Kansas City.
 
Grandchildren Hunter, Landon and Madison were guests of Bruce and Susan Davis this weekend.
 
Lorraine Ryan has donated the book ‘Honeymoon with My Brother’ to the McCracken Main Street Literary Society. The author, Franz Wisner, spoke about his book at her place of residence.
 
Amanda, Michelle, Anthony, Joe and Mathew Priddy were weekend guests of Sandra Jacobs. They went swimming, swimming & swimming and shopped at Walmart. The tooth fairy arrived at Sandra’s Saturday evening.  Sandra & Suzanne Azzarella met their mother, Sarah, in Hutchinson Sunday and they returned to their home in Wellington.
 
I read in a church bulletin that ‘in the days of Noah it rained for forty days and forty nights all over the land, except for western Rush and eastern Ness Counties. They only received a quarter of an inch. . .Pray for Rain!!’ (This bulletin was used in another county)
 
Alumni Memorials have been given to Bill McKinney from Shannon McKinney; The class of 1951 from Susan Keith; Vernie & Anise Irvin from Wayne Irvin; George Myers from Janice Stull; Melvin Littler, Oliver & Willetta Herdman from Terry & Carol Herdman; Don Greenway from Betty Greenway, Alan & Donna Hill; Al Rues from Rose Diehl; Lee & Gladys Fear from Bob Fear; Donna Schuckman, Bert & Lenora Schuckman from Donald Schuckman; Dean & Inez Irvin, Bev & Vida Irvin from Helen Goering; Al Rues from Alicia Rues Barrett; Bev & Vida Irvin from Linda Bittel; Celestin Stremel, Lyle Davenport, Elmore & Glen Ryan from Carolyn Davenport; Donald & Carrie Davis House, Donna Schuckman from Annette Chestnut.
 
A 50th wedding anniversary dinner was held Friday evening at Meridys Café in Russell for Gary Sam and Alice Oller. Some of those attending were Bob & Marlene Funk, Wakeeney; Babe & Arlene Gilbert; Priscella Jacobs; Shirley Higgins, McCracken; his sisters Carolyn Oller, Pratt; & Pete & Lola Rixon, Granbury, Texas; his brother Albert Oller, his son Monty & Pennie Oller and grandsons Mason, Wade and Kendall, Pawhuska, Oklahoma.    
 
Two good books to read are The Mountain between Us and The Rivers End both by Charles Martin.  
 
One of the last cans of Budweiser beer from the 25th annual McCracken Rodeo 2011 was donated to the McCracken Historical Museum by an anonymous donor.
 
Our Kansas City residents who attended the Rush County Fair were Jamie and Dennis Shell; Clinton and Tera Swan, Taylor and Blake; Amanda Pierce, Jason, Toby and Ben; Bea and Tim Lewis; Jerry and Pam Sipes.  The grand kids really enjoy coming to McCracken & Rush County. They loved the fair, driving the golf cart, feeding kittens, all the things they can’t do in Kansas City!!
 
Zach Higgins is a member of the A&F& Boxberger Automotive softball team in Hoisington. After winning only 3 games all season they placed 4th in the tournament held in Hoisington last week-end. It was a benefit for three month old Maxton Burkey who died of SIDS. (Zach beat his cousins, Cameron & Kyra Horesky in the last inning for 4th place). August 11, 2011 News
 
Birthdays:  August 11, Jim Rein, James Wierman, Garrison Herdman; August 12, Melissa Lamer, Kara Norlin, Marsha Healy, Dennis Walker; August 13, Michael Morgan, Ashleigh Allen, Paytyn Dimick; August 14, Matt Pfannenstiel, Katherine P. Kerney, Brian Legleiter; August 15, Susan Reinhart, Brooke McClelland; August 16, Kari Groff, Ann Schutte, Tena Barber, Gary Anderson, Leslie Underwood, Silas Albers; August 17, Megan Janke, Howard Yost, Sharla Albers.
 
Anniversaries:  August 11, Seth and Jami Albers; August 12, Kevin and Janet Miller, Martin and Mary Higgins; August 13, John and Janice Stull, Pat and Jackie Casey; August 15, Ron and Janice Rein.
 
Our sympathy to the family of Robert Bott, 69, who died August 3, 2011 at Hays Medical Center.  He was born November 6, 1941 in Great Bend to John George and Clara M. Irvin Bott.  He was a 1959 graduate of Alexander High School. He married Linda Morgan on August 26, 1964.  She died January 23, 1995.  He owned and operated the Bott Stop in Alexander.  He is survived by a daughter, Dixie Balman and her husband Dan of Hays, three grandchildren.  Burial was in Alexander Cemetery
 
Austin McGaughey, Richard Showalter and Carly Derr attended the American Idol on Tour concert in Kansas City at the Sprint Center.
 
Sure glad to get some of the showers.  A good general rain would be most welcome.
 
Walter and Jeanette Rogers are renewing members of the Jail/Museum.
 
Don Barber, Continental Barber and Style Shop in Hays, is retiring after 50 years in the barbering business.

Francis Zeller came home a week ago Monday and is continuing rehab on an out-patient basis.
 
Kansas History Notes
Without any statutory provision or formal adoption as the "State flower", there came about through the voice of the people the selection of the sunflower as the emblem of Kansas.  The sunflower sprang up on either side of the Santa Fe Trail for 800 miles.
 
During the administration of Governor John P. St. John 1879-1883, General Grant and President Hayes visited Kansas.  The new State Normal building at Emporia was finished  and the fine building at Washburn College was completed.
 
McCracken History Notes
August 1911
The second annual Rush County Fair will be held August 29, 30, 31 at the fair grounds in Rush Center.  The finest carry-u-all and Ferris Wheel in the State, three brass bands, lunch stands and ball games each day.  Admission 15 and 25 cents.
 
The Regulars defeated the Scrubs in an interesting game of baseball Tuesday.  The scrub's pitcher held the Regulars safe for three innings.  The score was 5 to 3.  Batteries:  Stephens and Metz, Seiling and Galloway, Prior and Edwards; Umpires, Lovitt and Foster.
 
August 1941
Reed Bullock, Jean and Joan Hardwick all had their tonsils removed in WaKeeney by Dr. Osborne.  Jean's were removed Tuesday, Reed and Joan on Saturday.
 
At the Garden Theatre in McCracken the "Zeigfield Girl" with James Stewart, Hedy Lamar, Judy Garland and Lana Turner is playing.  It is the biggest musical MGM has produced since "The Great Ziegfield".
 
August 1961
The grand champion baby beef of the Rush County Fair, a Hereford sold for a top price of $47.00 per hundred weight.
 
A picnic dinner was held in the Scott County State Park Sunday honoring the birthdays of Bob Derr and John Walker.

August 1981
McCracken High School and Grade School teachers are Principal, R. B. Hayes, Gloria Blackwell, Glenn Conner, Craig Cooper, Susan Coffman, Karen Madorin, William McKinney, Mark Miller, Terry Seltmann, Betty Baus, Philena Baus, Robert Bearly, Elizabeth Conner.  At Alexander, Bernadette Taylor, Lorraine Norlin and Patricia Petz.




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